Dec 17, 2010
It’s hard to miss the signs that this holiday season is in full swing – all the cocktail parties, sweet treats, festive decorations and, thankfully this year, lots and lots of snow in Tahoe. I love this time of the year!
This is also a spiritual time for many and a time to reflect upon their faith. Along with each different faith, there are certain beliefs and traditions of which influence the couple’s wedding ceremony. These ceremonies can differ as widely as a bride’s personal style but they have one common purpose of uniting two individuals.
This past summer Merrily Wed planned a wide variety of wedding ceremonies. We had a Persian, a Jewish, a Catholic and a Buddhist ceremony all in the month of July alone! Just like our couples, each of these ceremonies was very unique and we had a fabulous time making sure every detail was just right. We would like to share some of the highlights with you!
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Dave Getzschman - MW Wedding
Persian Wedding Ceremony:
The Persian wedding ceremony is known as the aghd. During the aghd, the bride and groom are seated before a spread of traditional items, called the sofreh. On the sofreh facing the bride and groom is a mirror, illuminated by candles on either side. Many other items are placed onto the sofreh and each has its own symbolism with regard to prosperity that it may bring. The married women in the family hold above the couple a canopy of fine fabric and grind two cones of sugar over their heads, to hope for a sweet life.
Unlike traditional western weddings where the bride and groom state “I Do,” the Persian tradition is more elaborate and entices the bride to agree to marry the groom. When the officiant asks for the bride’s hand on behalf of the groom, the bride does not speak at first; instead she remains silent, which represents the pursuit of the bride by the groom. The third time that she is asked, the bride speaks up and gives the affirmative response of “baleh!” (yes). The officiant then directs the question to the groom, who answers yes without hesitation.
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Keoki Flagg Photography - MW Wedding
Jewish Wedding Ceremony:
Before a Jewish wedding ceremony, the ketubah (marriage contract) is signed in the presence of two witnesses. The ketubah describes the husband’s responsibility to his wife: clothing, food, and marital relations. This is often written as a manuscript and is framed and displayed in the couple’s home.
A traditional Jewish wedding ceremony takes place under a Chuppah – a wedding canopy. The Chuppah symbolizes the new home being built by the couple when they become husband and wife. It is traditional for the face of the bride to be veiled during part of the ceremony. The veil is removed by the end of the ceremony, in a ritual called Badeken.
In the ceremony, “Seven Blessings” are recited by the Rabbi, or by honored members of the bridal party who are called up individually. The groom holds a cup or glass of wine during these blessings, and drinks from it after each blessing. At the end of the ceremony, the groom breaks a glass, crushing it with his right foot, and the guests shout “Mazel tov!” which means good luck. After the ceremony it is custom to leave the bride and groom alone for 10-20 minutes, where the couple retreats to a private room.
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Kate Webber - MW Wedding
Catholic Wedding Ceremony:
Catholic weddings are very traditional, rarely straying from their original customs. The ceremony consists of biblical readings, a sermon, the exchange of vows and rings followed by additional prayers. A very important element of a Catholic wedding ceremony is the Sacrament of Matrimony, a public sign that the couple gives oneself totally to the other person. Catholic weddings must be held in a church and are not allowed to be held outdoors, to be valid with the church.
The processional is a key aspect of the Catholic wedding ceremony. This usually consists of altar servers, the priest, witnesses, bridesmaids and groomsmen. The bride is traditionally led down the aisle by her father.
The priest blesses the rings, then the vows and rings are exchanged by the couple. Couples having a Catholic ceremony can choose whether or not they desire to include Mass. To conclude the ceremony, the priest gives a final blessing followed by announcing the couple for the first time. The couple starts the recessional by walking back down the aisle together, followed by the bridal party.
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Lisa Leigh Photography - MW Wedding
Buddhist Wedding Ceremony:
There is no standardized Buddhist marriage ceremony; however wedding ceremonies can be Buddhist if they are centered on the main beliefs of Buddhism and include traditional Buddhist elements. There are two main areas of beliefs to add to your ceremony to make it a Buddhist ceremony.
First is the acknowledgement of the present moment, many of life’s special moments occur in the present. Including the acknowledgement of the present in the ceremony is very traditional for a Buddhist wedding ceremony. The second belief that should be a part of the ceremony is the feeling of interconnectedness. Ceremonies are intended to mark important events, allowing attendees to express their true feelings and share them with others is important to those attending a Buddhist ceremony.
Other traditional elements in the ceremony include having a short period of silence that allows all in attendance to have time to reflect on the wishes they have for the couple. Another element is repeating a refuge or precept after the officiant. The refuge or precept can be unique and re-written by the couple. Adding poetry into the ceremony is another aspect of a Buddhist ceremony. Lastly, having prayer flags around the ceremony is said to bring happiness, long life and prosperity to the flag planter and those in the vicinity.
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Although all of these ceremonies are different, they also have some similarities – a processional, vows are read and rings are exchanged which represent the vows. The last and final common tradition is ending the ceremony by the groom kissing the bride. What better way to ending a ceremony then by sealing it with a kiss?
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Nov 30, 2010 |
Rustic Chic, Organic Posh, Natural Elegance, Outdoor Inspiration or whatever you like to call it, this is a popular wedding style found in Lake Tahoe as well as many scenic wedding locations.
With our experience in maximizing the aesthetic beauty of the Tahoe environment, Destination I Do Magazine turned to us for some professional tips in mastering this beautiful detail in destination weddings.
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They featured several different wedding looks in their Winter 2011 issue just launched today and Merrily Wed provided the know-how for the Rustic Chic style!
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Nov 19, 2010
The big question has been asked and now who will stand up by your side on your wedding day? Brides and grooms have started coming up with creative ways to ask their friends and family to be in their wedding party. There are unique ways to ask whether you are the artsy type or not. Below are some fabulous ideas to ask your bridesmaids and your groomsmen to partake in the fun and festivities that come along with being a member of the wedding party!
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IDEAS FOR THE GALS
Bridesmaid Survival Kit:
We all know that being a bridesmaid can be hectic. Why not create a bridesmaid “survival kit” for your gals? Include items that the bridesmaid will need as well as some other tongue-in-cheek items. Some items that we thought would fit in perfectly are: measuring tape, chart for dress measurements, Zanex for the bride, compact mirror, ear plugs (for long winded speeches), a picture of the bridesmaid’s dresses, etc. You can get really fun with this one! If you have not found your bridesmaids’ dresses yet you can play a joke on them by including a picture of a really ugly dress in the kit. Let’s see how long it takes them to crack! Don’t forget to add a sweet note asking them to be your bridesmaid too…
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Courtesy of: Style Me Pretty
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Scrapbooks:
If you are the more creative type and have some time to spare, you can design scrapbooks for all of your bridesmaids. These can be small books that have pages with photos of you and your bridesmaid, maybe a recap of an earlier time or when you first met as well as any momento that you might just have on hand that is special to the two of you. Each will differ, but that is what makes them – your bridesmaid and the book – so special! If you are not the artsy type there are websites that you can create the pages on and then have them printed and bound. Don’t forget to add a card (or sneak a page in) to ask her to be a part of your bridal party.
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IDEAS FOR THE GUYS
We all know that MOST guys don’t like to express their feelings as much as gals do, especially to other guys. Here are a few great ideas for grooms that don’t want to be too ‘soft’ but want to ask their groomsmen in a special way.
Personalized Bottles:
For a sneaky way to ask your groomsmen to be a part of your wedding, photoshop the label of your favorite beer to include the word groomsmen. Invite the guys over for the game or night out, and give them all the beers with the new groomsmen labels on them. Let’s see how long it takes them to figure out that the label has been changed! The label below was made from a Guinness label but any label will work.
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Courtesy of: Wedding Chicks
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Beer Mugs:
Another fun way to ask your groomsmen is by personalizing beer mugs , flasks or shot glasses engraved with their name and the word groomsman or best man. Not only is it a cool gift that most guys will enjoy (before, during and after the wedding…) but these items make great memorable photo props. Don’t forget to get one for the groom too!
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IDEAS FOR THE WHOLE WEDDING PARTY
Wine Bottles:
If you don’t want to make something for your wedding party here is a fabulous solution. We have found two bottles of wine, one is called Bridesmaid Red and the other is “Best Man” Pinot. Bridesmaid Red is created by three Napa winemakers: Josh Peeples, Drew Neiman, and Pam Starr. The three wine makers collaborated by blending their excess barrels. It is a fantastic ‘marriage’ of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a little Syrah. This wine is a crowd pleaser and a great way to ask all of your bridesmaids.
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Courtesy of: K&L wines
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If you are looking for a way to ask your Best Man to be apart of your special day, Truckee River Winery has created a wine called “Best Man” Pinot. The Best Man Pinot Noir started as an experiment with fruit, now it has become a favorite for many. Only 80 cases of this wine have been made so if you are interested in get this for your Best Man (or all your Best Men) then act fast!
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Courtesy of: Truckee River Winery
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Doing an Activity: Tempt your potential wedding party by asking them to join you in an activity that you like to do together – shouldn’t be too hard! While together, hand out cards, notes, make a huge sign or even just ask them to be a part of your wedding party. As long as it is a shared hobby or sport, that is all that matters!
Coming up with a creative, unique way to ask your wedding party can be a lot of fun but can also be challenging. Hopefully some of these ideas will inspire you!
Oct 28, 2010
After finding your dream wedding gown (and possibly falling in love again…), don’t forget about your main squeeze and his entourage. The formality of your gown will easily dictate what your groom and his groomsmen should wear. At MW’s lakefront weddings we have seen different types of attire ranging from formal to semi-formal to casual. There are so many choices for the men to choose from so take care with these details and they will be sure to look amazingly dapper!
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Formal:
The most classic attire is the tuxedo or Black Tie. The tuxedo usually includes a black coat, trousers with stripe on leg seam, white tuxedo shirt, cummerbund, black bow tie, cuff links and black leather dress shoes. For a quirky spin – ‘Creative Black Tie’ – on the traditional tuxedo, replace the black bow tie with a fun color that compliments the color palette of your special day or sport a black shirt for a modern look.
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Photo Courtesy of Ben Chrisman Photography, Dave Getzschman of Ben Chrisman Photography & Jennifer Baciocco Photography - All Merrily Wed Weddings.
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For the utmost formal event, it must be White Tie complete with a white bow tie, vest, possibly jacket with tails and a white tuxedo shirt.
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Semi-Formal:
The most common style that we see at lakefront weddings is semi-formal. Semi-formal usually includes a well-planned suit and tie. This style can be personalized by using a different color suit besides black. Some of the popular suit colors we have seen besides black are: navy blue, charcoal gray, chocolate brown and tan.
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Photos Courtesy of (clockwise) Kate Webber Photography, Lisa Leigh Photography, Mulberry Photography and Jay Reilly Photography. All Merrily Wed Weddings.
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Another fabulous look we love is a “By the Lake” style by combining a navy sportcoat and khaki slacks. This nautical trend is a favorite for many reasons including the adaptability to fit your personal taste.
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Photos Courtesy of (clockwise) Christa Hoffarth Photography, Jennifer Baciocco Photography and Jay Reilly Photography. All Merrily Wed Weddings.
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Don’t forget the details!! All of these semi-formal styles can look great paired with a tie that pulls from your wedding color scheme.
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Kilt:
Another dapper look for those willing enough (and with the legs!) to pull this ensemble off is the kilt. A kilt is a classic Scottish and Celtic garment. It is a knee-length garment that is pleated in the rear and made from wool in a tartan pattern. Many grooms choose to wear a pattern in their family clan’s tartan to represent their Scottish or Celtic culture on their special day. Tradition has it that nothing else is worn underneath the kilt…
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Photos Courtesy of Photography by Monique, Organic Photographs and Ben Chrisman Photography. All Merrily Wed Weddings.
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Semi-Casual:
A semi-casual wedding calls for a more relaxed style. A khaki linen suit or pairing a nice collared silk shirt and slacks are perfect looks for a laid back feel. If it gets chilly during the evening, a sportcoat is a great addition to the shirt/slack combination.
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Photos courtesy by Ben Chrisman Photography. Merrily Wed Wedding.
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Your groom and groomsmen are sure to look as unforgettably stunning as you (well, almost as smashing!) with just a little care in choosing their stylish look.
Oct 20, 2010
Have you ever wondered where certain wedding traditions came from? We picked seven common wedding traditions and found their origins. It is interesting to see how these have evolved over the years into today’s widely popular and accepted versions.
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1. The Wedding Party:
During Ancient Roman times it was believed that demons were out to get the couple about to be married. The tradition of bridesmaids and groomsmen was created to help protect the couple. The wedding party dressed similar to the bride – bridesmaids used to wear white – and the groom so the demons could not tell who was getting married.
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2. The Veil:
The veil worn by the bride was not always sheer or made of lace; it used to be made from a much heavier cloth. This opaque material was a precaution in case there was another man in love with the bride. The veil would hide whomever was under the veil, and her other admirer couldn’t kidnap her before she was wed.
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3. Bride on Left & Groom on Right:
During the wedding ceremony the bride traditionally stands on the left and the groom stands on the right. The origin of this tradition goes back to when the groom used to kidnap his bride. The groom would stand on the right in case he had to fight another suitor, this would allow the groom to hold the brides left hand and still have his right free to be able to use his sword.
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4. You May Now Kiss the Bride:
Sealed with a kiss? There was a time, under Roman law that a kiss was legally binding. In fact, if the couple did not kiss at the end of the ceremony, the marriage would be null and void. The kiss is now for more romantic purposes and, hey it is just plain fun, than it was in those days!
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5. The Grooms Cake:
The tradition of having a groom’s cake in addition to the traditional wedding cake started in the South. The groom’s cake is not only so the groom can reflect his own interests and hobbies into his special day, it also is popular with the single female guests. Legend has it that if a female guest takes a slice of the groom’s cake and places it under her pillow while she sleeps that night, she will dream of her future husband.
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6. Cake Cutting:
Sharing the first piece was a traditions created by the Romans. It was believed that eating the first piece together creates a special bond between the bride and groom. The sweet cake was thought to bring sweetness to all aspects of the couple’s new life together. The wheat used in the cake was symbolic of a fruitful union and fertility.
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7. The Honeymoon:
The honeymoon is a very old Scandinavian tradition. After the ceremony the bride used to be captured by her groom and held hostage until her family called off the search for her. The term honeymoon refers to the time that follows the capture of the bride. This also relates to the origins of a ‘best man’, the best man was supposed to stall the bride’s family until the couple had escaped.
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These wedding traditions have been around for a long time and have evolved into their more modern versions. You now know the originations of these popular traditions so at the next wedding you attend, you can dazzle your friends with your handy knowledge!
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Photos (in order) courtesy of Annie X Photography, Catherine Hall Studios, Jennifer Baciocco Photography, Ben Chrisman Photography (three photos) and Organic Photographs. All from Merrily Wed Weddings.
Oct 7, 2010
Every engaged couple’s planning regime usually includes an engagement photo session. Over time this has morphed to include wardrobe changes, multiple locations and creative props from dogs to cruiser bikes – all to capture the pair’s true essence. This trend, now an obligation for most, shouldn’t stop here. Why not extend it to visually document the bride’s bonds of friendship with her BFF’s??
This gal photo shoot can be a glorified glam session and the themes, locations and props can vary to match each girlfriend entourage’s personality. How fun would this be??
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Natasha, one of our 2010 summer brides, gathered her bridesmaids for a glam photo session before heading out on the town for her bachelorette party. Result? An ultra modern, stylish and hip way to celebrate the end of ‘bachelorette-hood’. Her sophisticated, high-fashion photos are ridiculously cool and we’re sure they were even more fun to make.
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What a beautiful testament to the gal bonds of friendship a photo shoot is and a sure fire way to jazz up a bachelorette party or bridal shower. What about a snow bunny photo session, après ski, for those who are snow-lovers? A good-ole slumber party shoot with pj’s, pillows and cocktails? Big city, bright lights, high fashion? Beach, sun, and surfboards? Golf clubs, golf carts on the golf course?
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What would you do for your Bridesmaids/BFF’s photo shoot??
